Senior Reentry Simulation Engineer

Metheion Technology & Engineering Consulting; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Relocation assistance

Remote work with 20-30% travel

Career growth in startup

Job summary

Metheion Technology & Engineering Consulting seeks an engineer to lead reentry simulations and aerothermodynamic analysis for a next‑generation free‑flying reentry capsule. You will build models to characterize aerodynamic, thermal, and structural environments throughout atmospheric reentry and recovery, driving TPS and hardware design decisions.

The role covers hypersonic to lower-atmosphere phases, defining key parameters and translating results into engineering requirements, with close

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in aerospace/ mechanical/ systems engineering or physics.
• Experience with atmospheric reentry, hypersonics or related aerospace simulation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and run high-fidelity simulations of atmospheric reentry and recovery.
• Characterize aerodynamic forces, pressures, thermal loads, and environmental conditions across the reentry trajectory.
• Perform aerothermodynamic analysis including convective and radiative heat transfer effects.
• Use CFD and other numerical methods to model aerodynamic and thermal environments.
• Apply Monte Carlo and other statistical methods to assess variations and uncertainties.
• Define and optimize vehicle parameters including configuration and ballistic coefficient.
• Collaborate with trajectory analysis to evaluate reentry trajectories and loads.
• Translate results into TPS and hardware design requirements.
• Use FEA and related methods to identify structural/thermal risks and support design decisions.
• Develop CAD models, simulation inputs, technical reports, and documentation for engineers and manufacturing.

Skills

Atmospheric reentry simulations

Aerodynamics & aerothermodynamics

CFD

Multi-disciplinary workflows

Uncertainty analysis (Monte Carlo)

Structural/thermal risk assessment

Thermal Protection System (TPS) design

Education

Aerospace/Mechanical/Systems Engineering or Physics degree

Tools

CFD

FEA

Python/MATLAB

Job description

About the role

You will lead the reentry simulation and aerothermodynamic analysis for a next-generation free-flying reentry capsule. You will develop the models needed to characterize the vehicle’s aerodynamic, thermal, and structural environment throughout atmospheric reentry and recovery, and use the results to drive the vehicle’s design.

Your work will cover the full reentry environment, from hypersonic flight through the lower atmosphere and recovery. You will define key vehicle parameters such as aerodynamic configuration and ballistic coefficient, quantify aerodynamic and thermal loads, and translate simulation results into practical requirements for the vehicle and its Thermal Protection System (TPS). You will work closely with a dedicated trajectory analysis engineer and the broader multidisciplinary engineering team to turn simulation results into hardware decisions.

This position is in a startup environment. You should be comfortable with ambiguity, tight schedules, shifting priorities, rapid iteration, and taking ownership of technical decisions that directly affect the final product.

Responsibilities

• Develop and run high-fidelity simulations of atmospheric reentry and recovery.
• Characterize aerodynamic forces, pressures, thermal loads, and other environmental conditions across the reentry trajectory.
• Perform aerothermodynamic analysis, including convective and radiative heat-transfer effects across different flight regimes.
• Use CFD and other numerical methods to model the vehicle’s aerodynamic and thermal environment.
• Apply Monte Carlo and other statistical simulation methods to assess variations, uncertainties, and off-nominal reentry conditions.
• Define and optimize key vehicle parameters, including aerodynamic configuration and ballistic coefficient.
• Work closely with the trajectory analysis engineer to evaluate and optimize reentry trajectories and their impact on vehicle loads.
• Translate simulation results into engineering requirements for the Thermal Protection System (TPS) and other vehicle components.
• Use FEA and related simulation methods to identify structural and thermal risks and support engineering design decisions.
• Develop CAD models, simulation inputs, technical reports, and other documentation required to communicate designs to structural engineers and manufacturing partners.
• Take technical ownership of the reentry and aerothermodynamic simulation workstream and communicate key findings and design implications to the wider engineering team.

Requirements

• Proven experience with atmospheric reentry, hypersonic flight, or closely related aerospace simulation.
• Strong expertise in aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics.
• Hands-on experience with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).
• Strong understanding of aerodynamic and thermal reentry environments.
• Experience modelling convective and radiative heat transfer in high-speed atmospheric flight.
• Experience with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and coupled or multidisciplinary simulation workflows.
• Experience using Monte Carlo or other statistical methods for engineering simulation and uncertainty analysis.
• Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or Materials Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Practical baseline understanding of materials, thermal protection systems, and mechanical design.
• Ability to translate simulation results into concrete vehicle, TPS, and hardware design decisions.

Nice to have

• Direct experience with reentry capsules, spacecraft, launch vehicles, rockets, or hypersonic aerospace systems.
• Experience with atmospheric reentry testing or experimental validation of aerothermal models.
• Experience designing or selecting TPS systems.
• Experience with high-temperature materials and thermal/structural coupling.
• Experience developing engineering tools or simulation frameworks in Python, MATLAB, or similar languages.

What we offer

• Permanent contract with 3-month probation.
• Remote work arrangement with 20-30% travel to core engineering facilities.
• Option to convert a percentage of your monthly salary into company stock at favourable terms.
• Relocation assistance if you would like to move to the location of the on-site engineering facilities.